Spanish Colonization and Missions

Spanish Colonization and the Mission System

How Spain used missions to settle Texas

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(2)(C) identify important individuals, events, and issues related to European colonization of Texas, including the establishment of Catholic missions, towns, and ranches, and the contributions of individuals such as Fray Damián Massanet, Antonio Margil de Jesús, and Francisco Hidalgo (2)(F) contrast purposes for and methods of settlement in Texas : Spanish

Instructions: #1 Select each mission/fort #2 Review ALL information (including pictures) about each mission/fort #3 While reviewing each mission/fort, complete your graphic organizer with the required information

Write who founded it

write the name of the mission/fort

Write the year founded

Write the region of Texas it's in

Write what tribe it tried to convert

Write the geogrpahic-al feature it was by

Was it successful: Write Yes or No

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Spain used missions to colonize Texas. Missions allowed Spain to control Native Americans' identity, culture, and land.

Click on each mission and fort to learn more about each one. Use the information to complete your graphic organizer

1690 San Francisco de los Tejas

1680 Mission Corpus Christi de la Ysleta

1757 Mission Santa Cruz de San Sabá

1720 Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo

1718 Mission San Antonio de Valero

Legend

1685 Fort St. Louis

1699 Mission San Juan Bautista

Mission

Fort

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Mission Santa Cruz de San Sabá

Mission Santa Cruz de San Sabá was founded (established) in 1757 by Spanish Franciscan friar/priests in the Edwards Plateau, located in the Great Plains region of Texas. The mission was founded to convert the Apache Native Americans to Christianity. It was built near the San Saba River, which provided water for drinking, transportation, and agriculture. To keep it safe, Presidio San Luis de las Amarillas was built nearby. Unfortunately, the mission wasn’t successful. In 1758, it was attacked and destroyed by 2,000 Comanche and allied warries, who didn’t like the mission’s efforts to support the Apache, their traditional enemy. The mission was never rebuilt after that.

Mission San Juan Bautista

Mission San Juan Bautista was founded (established) in 1700 by Spanish Franciscan friar/priests, especially Father Margil de Jesús. It’s located in the Coastal Plains region, near what is now San Juan, Texas. The mission was founded to convert the Coahuiltecan Native Americans to Christianity. It was built along the Rio Grande River, which gave them water for drinking, transportation, and agriculture. The nearby Presidio San Juan Bautista helped protect the mission from attacks. The mission was pretty successful because it became an important place for teaching and community living, with many Native Americans converting and settling around it. It played a key role in the Spanish colonization of Texas.

Mission San Antonio de Valero

Mission San Antonio de Valero, commonly known as the Alamo, was founded in 1718 by Spanish Franciscan friar/priests. It is located in the Coastal Plains region of Texas, near the San Antonio River. The mission aimed to convert the Coahuiltecan Native Americans to Christianity. Built close to the river, it had a reliable water source for drinking, transportation, and agriculture. The nearby Presidio San Antonio de Béjar provided protection for the mission While the mission faced many challenges, including attacks and a lack of resources, it was somewhat successful in establishing a community and spreading Christianity. However, it eventually became more famous for its role during the Battle of the Alamo in the Texas Revolution rather than its initial mission work.

San Francisco de los Tejas

Mission San Francisco de los Tejas was founded in 1690 by Spanish Franciscan friar/priests led by Father Damián Massanet. It was located in the Piney Woods of East Texas, part of the Coastal Plains region. The mission was created to convert the Caddo Native Americans to Christianity. It was built near the Neches River, providing access to water for drinking, transportation, and agriculture. It was initially protected by Presidio San Juan Bautista, which was built later to offer some defense. However, the mission was ultimately not successful due to challenges like disease, insufficient supplies, and lack of interest in converting to Chritiantiy by the Caddo. It was abandoned in 1693.

Mission Corpus Christi de la Ysleta

Mission Corpus Christi de la Ysleta, also known as Ysleta Mission, was founded (established) in 1682 by Spanish Franciscan friar/priests led by Fray Francisco de Ayeta. It’s located in the Mountains and Basins region of Texas, near present-day El Paso. The mission was built to convert the Tigua (Tiwa) Native Americans to Christianity. It was set up near the Rio Grande River, which provided them with water for drinking, transportation, and agriculture. The Presidio of San Elizario, built in 1789, protected the mission from attacks. The mission was extremely successful because many Tigua people converted to Christianity. This Tigua community is still around today in the area.

Fort St. Louis

Fort St. Louis was founded in 1685 by the French explorer Robert La Salle. It’s located in the Coastal Plains region of Texas, near what is now Matagorda Bay. The fort was built near a river and close to the Gulf of Mexico, which made it easy to get water and travel by boat. La Salle founded the fort to establish a French colony in Texas and to claim the land for France. The fort struggled to survive because of conflicts with local Native American tribes, bad weather, and food shortages. In the end, it wasn’t successful; it was abandoned in 1688 after La Salle was killed, and the remaining settlers couldn’t keep the fort going.

Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo

Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo was founded in 1720 by Spanish Franciscan friar/priests, especially Father Antonio Margil de Jesús. It’s located in the Coastal Plains region of Texas, right by the San Antonio River. The mission was founded to convert the Coahuiltecan Native Americans to Christianity. Being near the river provided water for drinking, transportation, and agriculture. The nearby Presidio San Antonio de Béjar protected the mission from attacks. The mission was very successful and became one of the most important ones in Texas. Many Native Americans were converted, and it developed a strong community with farming and crafts that lasted for many years.